Building the World Cup Roster 3

Forgot to do this following the Greece game, but figure it’s worth a look at how the World Cup roster may be shaking out. Hong Myeong-Bo has said that the 30-man preliminary roster is 90% complete, although it seems like he’s been saying that for a while now.

Not much change in the goalkeeping position. Jung Sung-Ryong and Kim Seung-Gyu are locks, and for me (with my admitted bias) Lee Bum-Young is still the likely candidate for the third spot. Kim Jin-Hyeon has made a late push, but I feel that Lee’s history with Hong and his recent penalty heroics for Busan keep him in the lead (slightly). As for the starting spot, Kim Seung-Gyu has edged ahead in early K League action.

Lee Yong remains the hard favorite for starting at rightback, but his backup is very much in the air. Kim Chang-Soo’s long-term injury has paved the way for a slightly resurgent Cha Du-Ri. Cha has been decent for Seoul, while Kim is still working his way back into the Kashiwa Reysol team. Time favors Cha at the moment, should Hong take either.

I know many want Park Joo-Ho to go, and I believe he deserves it, but I don’t get the feeling that Hong is too high on the Mainz player. Yoon Suk-Young’s recent showings for QPR have opened the window for him to go, but he’ll need to continue to play here and there for Hong to bring him. With all the uncertainty surrounding those two, Kim Jin-Su remains the favorite to start, despite some poor recent showings.

Kim Young-Gwon and Hong Jeong-Ho remain locks for the starting spots, and Hwang Seok-Ho and Kwak Tae-Hwi will likely go if healthy. If one of them suffers a long-term injury and looks to miss, expect Hong to turn to Seoul’s Kim Ju-Young or Jeonbuk’s Kim Ki-Hee as a backup option.

There are probably no doubts about Ki and Han’s role within the team, and Hong seems to have settled on them to start as the two deeper midfielders. Park Jong-Woo and Ha Dae-Sung haven’t had brilliant (as far as I know) starts to life in China, but they remain the favorites for back up spots. Hong seems to like Park’s versatility, and Ha can bring some seniority and leadership to the position. Lee Myeong-Joo has been good for Pohang thus far, but Hong doesn’t seem to be a huge fan.

The number 10 role seems pretty locked down with Koo and Kim there. Koo, being Hong’s captain of choice, will be the starter. Kim a backup. Barring injury to both of them, there isn’t a need for another number 10. Should an injury occur Hong would likely rotate in a forward (deep) or wide midfielder.

Son Heung-Min and Lee Chung-Yong will start on the left and right wings respectively. Lee Keun-Ho would likely be the sub for either of them for whatever reason. Nam Tae-Hee seems to have taken a small lead in the race between him and Yoon Il-Rok for another reserve spot, although Yoon has been decent for Seoul lately. Yoon could catch up as the K League continues and the Qatari Stars League shuts down for the season (in April). Go Yo-Han shouldn’t make it, but he seems to be in Hong’s mind (maybe makes the 30 but not the 23).

How time has changed for the forward picture. Park Chu-Young made his dramatic return against Greece and scored. He then got injured and has not appeared for new club Watford since. Either way Park will make the trip to Brazil. Kim Shin-Wook, despite not impressing in Taeguk Warrior red, has been very impressive in Ulsan Hyundai blue. So, “The Wookie” will journey to Brazil as well. Ji Dong-Won, despite bouncing around Europe, will likely go due to his versatility.

Hong’s preference for Yoon Suk-Young sees him edge Park Joo-Ho out by the slimmest of margins. With Kim Chang-Soo recovering from injury and Cha Du-Ri not able to make the Greece game, Hong decides to stick with the players he knows and utilizes Hwang Seok-Ho as a spare centerback and rightback, which also allows him to stock up on midfielders which is probably the team’s key area.

K League Classic

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

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Team

P

1

Gyeongnam

9

2

Gangwon

9

3

Pohang Steelers

7

4

Jeonbuk Motors

6

5

Suwon Bluewings

4

6

Incheon United

4

7

Jeju United

4

8

Jeonnam Dragons

3

9

Sangju Sangmu

3

10

Seoul

1

11

Daegu

1

12

Ulsan

0

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

March 18, 2018

Suwon Bluewings

1 - 1

Pohang Steelers

Ulsan

0 - 1

Jeju United

Jeonbuk Motors

2 - 1

Seoul

March 17, 2018

Jeonnam Dragons

1 - 3

Gyeongnam

Gangwon

2 - 1

Sangju Sangmu

Incheon United

0 - 0

Daegu

English Premier League

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

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Team

P

1

Manchester City

81

2

Manchester United

65

3

Liverpool

63

4

Tottenham Hotspur

61

5

Chelsea

56

6

Arsenal

48

7

Burnley

43

8

Leicester City

40

9

Everton

40

10

AFC Bournemouth

36

11

Watford

36

12

Brighton & Hov…

34

13

Newcastle United

32

14

Swansea City

31

15

Huddersfield Town

31

16

Crystal Palace

30

17

West Ham United

30

18

Southampton

28

19

Stoke City

27

20

West Bromwich Albion

20

Hwang Heechan

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

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Team

P

1

Red Bull Salzburg

62

Bundesliga

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

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Team

P

1

Bayern München

66

2

Schalke 04

49

3

Borussia Dortmund

48

4

Eintracht Frankfurt

45

5

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

44

6

RB Leipzig

43

7

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim

39

8

Stuttgart

37

9

Borussia Mönchengladbach

36

10

Augsburg 1907

35

11

Hertha BSC

35

12

Werder Bremen

33

13

Hannover 96

32

14

SC Freiburg

30

15

Wolfsburg

25

16

1. FSV Mainz 05

25

17

1. FC Köln

20

18

Hamburger SV

18

Kwon Changhoon

Most recent soccer data here. The system is currently retrieving statistics from data feed.

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Team

P

10

Dijon

38

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The Tavern of the Taeguk Warriors is an online community of Korean football/soccer supporters. We bring you news, analysis and opinion in English about Korean players abroad, youth players and the K League.